Hitch in war on cancer as few go for tests

On average, only 16 in every 100 women have undergone screening for both breast and cervical cancer, according to the survey by Ipsos-Synovate, which was released on Monday.

It means 84 in every 100 women stayed away from the centres — unless they do so before the month ends.

October has been declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month and meant to raise screening for the disease.

The government, private hospitals and non-profit organisations have run sustained campaigns to have many people go for breast cancer examinations.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer kills more people globally than HIV/Aids, malaria and TB combined.

Lack of awareness

This is despite the fact that 40 per cent of cancer cases are completely curable if they are detected early, according to WHO.

Projections show that without a marked improvement in cervical cancer prevention, more than a million new cases will occur each year by 2050 worldwide.

According to the Ipsos-Synovate survey, only 15 out of every 100 women have gone for screening for breast cancer in the past year.

The figure of those who have gone for cervical cancer screening is only one figure more — 16 in every 100. The survey was conducted this month in 13 towns in Kenya this month.

According to the survey, an almost similar proportion of those surveyed (83 per cent) had not been screened for cervical cancer or diabetes in the past year.

The findings could suggest that more is needed to encourage people to go for cancer screening. A cancer specialist, Dr Pares Dave, said he was surprised by the low levels of women seeking the tests.

Dr Dave, who works at MP Shah Hospital, attributed the low turnout by women to lack of adequate awareness on the importance of the tests.

“Some are not aware of the stations where the tests are being conducted,” he said.